KENYA: Education & social care in the slums

Adventure Overview:

2 weeks

1 month

6 weeks

2 months

3 months+

Team Trip:

June 29 to

July 13th

Kibera is the largest urban slum in Africa with more than 1 million inhabitants. HIV/AIDS is a major problem amongst both adults and children, and as a direct result of the poor living conditions - open sewers and infected water - many other illnesses such as cholera, typhoid and malaria are commonplace. Desperation drives people to prostitution, alcohol/drug abuse, violence, crime or simply to abandon their replica franck muller crazy hours watches family. It is a place of immense need, and yet with the help of projects like this, it is also a place of hope.

As part of the desire to address the issues which the children of Kibera faced on a daily basis, a group of local adults came together with the united focus of helping orphans and vulnerable children achieve their full potential, both educationally and physically. This came as a result of the ever increasing number of children dropping out of schools as a result of lack of funding for school fees, lack of food, and also the devastating spread of HIV/AIDS that has increased the number of children without one or both parents.

This project works to try and reduce the number of children dropping out of school by providing a range of practical support structures including: Education support; Child counseling services and Social support to improve quality of life of the child. Healthy, educated children offer hope and a brighter future to the population of Kibera and this can only happen if sufficient support is given to families with severe difficulties. Could you help support this project to bring change to young lives?

During 2008 a study was conducted in the Kibera slum, focusing specifically on the children - their education and general development. The study indicated that most children living in Kibera slum were either total orphans or 'half orphans' (with one parent), and were children living in extreme poverty thus vulnerable to being abandoned as parents seek to find work etc. The Study highlighted the need to directly address these issues, and thus as a result this amazing project based in the heart of Kibera was born.

Project Vision:

The main focus of the project is to help Orphans and vulnerable children in poor living conditions achieve quality education and provide access to basic needs like food, shelter and clothing as well as helping those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

Project Mission

To offer education, basic needs, support, love and hope, to improve the quality of life for the less fortunate children around the slum.

Project Objectives

The centre seeks to provide support for orphans and vulnerable children, and aims to advocate for children's rights and reduce mortality among the children of Kibera through the following specific objectives:

To improve the education standards of orphans and Vulnerable Children in Kibera .

To improve the quality of life of orphaned and vulnerable children through the provision of quality education and basic needs (food, shelter & clothing).

To advocate and protect the rights of children through community empowerment and support those affected by HIV/AIDS.

To help children in Kibera achieve their goals, realize their potential talents and achieve their dreams through provision of basic needs.

To provide a feeding programme in the main centre whereby children are provided with a nutritious breakfast and lunch.

Provision of social work and home based care whereby staff visit the families of the children and provide pastoral support and practical advice.

The involvement of young people and the elderly in the community work, creating a family style environment where people of all ages help with all practical aspects of the project's work. These local volunteers help in running sports activities, music, cooking, washing the compound and rooms etc. They also help in team building activities.

Child mentorship programme to help encourage those children in greatest need.

Additional option for full day's safari in Nairobi National Park: €100

What is Included?

Accommodation

Food

24 / 7 Support

Training

Information Pack

Accommodation: During your time here you will stay with a local family in a secure unit just outside the slum area. You may have your own room depending on the number of volunteers here at the time, or you might be sharing with one other. The house has modern facilities but electricity is not always reliable in the area. The families are all very used to hosting volunteers and are very welcoming - true Kenyan hospitality!

Food: All meals will be provided for you during your stay. Food will be local & simple meals. You may get involved in helping to prepare the meals - learn some genuine African cooking skills!

Training: All volunteers setting out on an adventure with us receive pre-departure training to help you prepare for the experience ahead. This training covers all the areas you need to think about before you pack your bags. It gives you time to focus and prioritise, and provides you with the knowledge and information you need in order to have a safe, fulfilling and enjoyable adventure. On arrival at your project you will also receive orientation training which will help you to better understand the local culture and support you as you find your way around this new country. On your return we will also support you as you readapt to life back home. We encourage you to keep in contact with us and consider opportunities for you to stay connected to the work you have been part of with Agapé. In addition to all of this training you will also receive a comprehensive welcome pack full of useful information on your project, the country and the culture, as well as detailed safety and communication lists.

Support: Agapé Adventures respects that each person is unique, and thus has different needs, and we endeavour to meet those genuine needs as effectively as we can. All volunteers are supported by Agapé every step of the way. You will be allocated a line manager to assist you in the day to day aspects of your adventure and staff at Agapé’s main base who will be available 24/7 for any out of hours emergencies. All staff involved in supporting you, work together to provide coordinated, personal and professional support throughout your adventure.

Adventure Package: To come to Kenya and not experience the amazing wildlife would be a great shame. We would highly recommend spending a day or two exploring the national park in Nairobi. There's plenty of game to see and the option also to enjoy the giraffe sanctuary close by too. Just let us know if you would like to add this into your time in Kenya & we can organise everything for you.

Airport Collection & Drop Off: When you land into the airport we will make sure that someone is there to meet you and bring you to your project base. We will also provide assistance in returning you to the airport at the end of your time to help you take back all those gifts you've picked up along the way!

What Isn't Included

Adventure Package

Stipend

Visa

Flights

Insurance

What will I do?:

The role you take within this project depends largely on your area of skill. There are a variety of needs which you could assist the staff with, including:

TEACHERS:

Teachers are needed for the pre-school and primary school children.

One of the reasons education is so expensive and therefore out of the reach of many families in Kibera, is that the schools have to pay teacher's salaries. We are not promoting job substitution in this project, but looking to find ways to keep the cost of running this school to a minimum, and thus achieving on of the key goals of this project in providing education to the poorest of families. We are seeking people who are willing to bring new ideas, enthusiasm and creativity to the school, working alongside and under the direction of the Kenyan teaching staff.

As a teacher in the primary classes you will lead different subject lessons such as Maths, English, basic Science, Art etc alongside the main teachers, following their curriculum. You will also help to lead games / sports and physical education lessons, and assist in the break-time activities.

In the pre-school you will help the children as they learn basic reading and writing skills, assist them with their basic daily tasks, provide activities for them - games and art etc.

SOCIAL WORKERS:

If your focus is more social work based then you can help the staff greatly in visiting the families of the children. During these visits you will discuss & record the details of the children's background and highlight any problems which they may be facing. You will help to work alongside the children who are facing particularly difficult situations, providing support - practically and emotionally, encouraging them and providing them with a listening ear. You will also help to interact with the children's families where appropriate. Many of the families you would be working with in this role will be directly or indirectly affected by HIV AIDS, some will be involved in prostitution, for others there will be issues with alcohol / drug addiction, and various mental health issues. You will need to have a good understanding of these issues, and have the capacity to focus on the resources available in context of your surroundings in order to best help these families.

All the roles in this project are key to encouraging the positive growth of the work in this area. Your effort and commitment will go a long way to enabling this project achieve it's aims to provide hope, encouragement and a future for the children of Kibera.

TEAM:

In the team trips we have a variety of skills required and so you'll have chance to get involved in a wide range of activites.

The team's main focus is the children in the school, helping to lead games, lessons on specific subjects such as hygiene & health, sports, drama & crafts. Just spending time with the children is something they love - hearing your stories and learning about the world around them. They love to tell you their thoughts and ideas too!

As well as spending time with the children the team also have pracitcal work we look to complete in order to help maintain the school buildings and equipment. It might be painting, fixing chairs & tables, cleaning or building walls. For those who have specific skills such as carpenters and electricians we would greatly value your knowledge and skill in helping with the bigger issues.

We will also take time to spend with local families in Kibera, listen to their stories and learn about what life is really like in this community.

As a group we will discuss new ideas and bring together fresh perspectives to help lead the programme forward.

Take a look at the movie below of Ray - our volunteer from Dublin - who was teaching the kids some groovy moves!

The Local Area

No other country on earth can offer the visitor as much to see and do as Kenya can. Within the borders of this amazing country, you will find savannahs rich with big game, timeless cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches and coral reef, equatorial forests and mighty snow-capped mountains, searing deserts and cool highland retreats and endless opportunities for adventure, discovery, relaxation; more than you would ever expect...

Kenya lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. It is a medium-sized country by continental standards, covering an area of about 586,600km sq. Inland water bodies cover some 10,700km sq, the bulk of this in Lakes Victoria and Turkana.

Kenya has tremendous topographical diversity, including glaciated mountains with snow-capped peaks, the Rift Valley with its scarps and volcanoes, ancient granitic hills, flat desert landscapes and coral reefs and islets.

Kenya’s capital city has risen in a single century from a brackish uninhabited swampland to a thriving modern capital. When railway construction workers reached this area in 1899, they set up a basic camp and supply depot, simply called ‘Mile 327’.

The local Maasai called this highland swamp Ewaso Nai’beri – the place of cold water.

The camp became a rustic village, and then a shanty town, which by 1907 was the capital of all of British East Africa. It was soon an important centre for the colony and a mecca for adventurers, hunters and travellers from all over the world.

Modern Nairobi is still the safari capital of the Africa, but the modern world has quickly caught up with the city. A frontier town no more, Nairobi has become one of Africa’s largest, and most interesting cities. Nairobi is a city that never seems to sleep.

The entire town has a boundless energy, and is thriving place where all of human life can be found. This is a place of great contrasts where race, tribe and origin all become facets of a unique Nairobi character.

The city has not lost its sense of the past, with an excellent museum and the historical home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa open to visitors. This is not a modern capital separated from the great wilderness that surrounds it. Just outside the city is Nairobi National Park, 113 sq kms of plains, cliffs and forest.

The park is home to large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Giraffe and more. Rhino, Cheetah, and a large number of Lions are all found here, living wild within 20 minutes of the centre of town.

Further out of town, the spectacular 27 metre deep 'Fourteen Falls' waterfalls at Thika are perfect for a scenic day trip. Nearby Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, is centred around an imposing 2,146 metre mountain.

For the adventurous, take an hour's drive from town and you will find white water rafting on the beautiful Tana River.

From the wildlife to the nightlife, Nairobi is a city unlike any other. With a fantastic music scene, excellent international restaurants and an endless and colourful array of shops and markets, there is plenty on offer for your time here in Kenya.